Duet3D Logo Duet3D
    • Tags
    • Documentation
    • Order
    • Register
    • Login

    Feedback wanted: conditional GCode without indentation

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved
    Future Direction
    28
    54
    3.9k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • fcwiltundefined
      fcwilt @theruttmeister
      last edited by

      @theruttmeister said in Feedback wanted: conditional GCode without indentation:

      That could be simplified down to a gcode command that executed a specific .gcode file multiple times:
      Mxxx thisprintjob.gcode S10

      That would still require editing the slicer generated file to separate out the pre-print/post-print code from the main body of the code.

      With a While and End you add two lines to the file and your done.

      Frederick

      Printers: a E3D MS/TC setup and a RatRig Hybrid. Using Duet 3 hardware running 3.4.6

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • BoAundefined
        BoA
        last edited by BoA

        Should the keywork be 'end', or something else?
        I think I would use

        if condition
                   then
                               if given condition true
                               execute all commands up to else statement
                               or to fi if there is no else statement
        
                   else
                               if given condition false 
                               execute all commands up to fi
                   fi
        

        and

        while condition
        do
           command1
           command2
           command3
        done
        

        Should it be permitted to mix keywork-delimiting and indentation-delimiting in the same file? If so, what problems might arise, and what restrictions should be enforced?

        IMO indentations should be allowed just to keep it more readable, but ignored in processing code

        How should the user indicate to the firmware that a loop or conditional is to be delimited by a keyword instead of by indentation? One option is to have a new command keyword (e.g. 'noblockindent') that means that for the remainder of the file, keywork-delimiting will be used. Using that keyword when already inside a block would probably have to be banned. Another option is to use different variations of 'if' and 'while' (e.g. a different keyword or some extra character) to indicate keywork delimiting for that command.

        I would drop indentations for indicating clode blocks

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • MJLewundefined
          MJLew
          last edited by

          1. The coding language that I use most of the time (Livecode) uses "end repeat" to end a repeat loop, "end if" to end a conditional et cetera. It is very nice in that it does not depend on indents and it is entirely unambiguous. I commend it as a model to follow.

          2. No. Do not allow mixtures. They will be confusing.

          3. Ideally you would make the delimiting by keyword and do not support indentation. However, I'm guessing that indentation is already in use, and in that case your idea of something like 'noblockindent' would work rather like M82 and M83 (absolute and relative extruder). Perhaps it should have two keywords 'blockindent' and 'blockwords'.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • MikeSundefined
            MikeS @fcwilt
            last edited by

            @fcwilt +1 from me but at the moment {} brackets are used for putting variables from object model into gcode commands.

            Anyway i think that more similiar the conditional code is to c++ and less to python is for me a big yes....i have no problem with this type of language but i hate having indentation to determine the loop/function start/end.

            I would give a function its proper "ender" so for example "loop" for while loop and so on.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • OwenDundefined
              OwenD
              last edited by

              Having come from a Delphi programming background (based on pascal) I'd be inclined to lean towards a similar syntax
              Pascal was designed to be easy to read/teach.
              Blocks are typically surrounded by begin/end and use the keyword "do"
              Indentation is not required but usually used for clarity.

              while iterations < 10 do
              begin
              // do stuff
              end
              

              For if statements

              if move.axes[0].homed do
              begin
              echo "axis homed"
              end
              else
              begin
              echo "axis is not homed"
              end
              

              line ends are usually terminated with a semi colon ; except in nested begin/end blocks as if if else (the outer block must have a ; and the inner must not) but I don't think that is necessary here.
              Likewise the do keyword is purely for human readability.

              I would not allow mixing of indentation and whatever block format is chosen.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • botundefined
                bot
                last edited by

                I don't see the need for a begin keyword. If is the keyword that starts the block.

                Perhaps if a keyword is required at the beginning, we could borrow some LUA parlance and use THEN, so that the parser knows when the conditional is over.

                *not actually a robot

                fcwiltundefined 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • dbruce.ae05undefined
                  dbruce.ae05
                  last edited by

                  I’m going to break with the group. I like the Python style of programming and keeping the indentations. Python is widely used and when writing code on the SBC, most likely a raspberry pi, Python is the natural choice.

                  fcwiltundefined 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • fcwiltundefined
                    fcwilt @dbruce.ae05
                    last edited by

                    @dbruce-ae05 said in Feedback wanted: conditional GCode without indentation:

                    I’m going to break with the group. I like the Python style of programming and keeping the indentations. Python is widely used and when writing code on the SBC, most likely a raspberry pi, Python is the natural choice.

                    You're forgiven your errant ways. šŸ˜‰

                    Frederick

                    Printers: a E3D MS/TC setup and a RatRig Hybrid. Using Duet 3 hardware running 3.4.6

                    dbruce.ae05undefined 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • fcwiltundefined
                      fcwilt @bot
                      last edited by

                      @bot said in Feedback wanted: conditional GCode without indentation:

                      I don't see the need for a begin keyword. If is the keyword that starts the block.

                      Perhaps if a keyword is required at the beginning, we could borrow some LUA parlance and use THEN, so that the parser knows when the conditional is over.

                      Well in Delphi if you only have one statement after the condition you don't need the begin/end pair. You use them when you have more than one statement.

                      I always thought that NOT always requiring begin/end even for one statement was a mistake.

                      Frederick

                      Printers: a E3D MS/TC setup and a RatRig Hybrid. Using Duet 3 hardware running 3.4.6

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • dbruce.ae05undefined
                        dbruce.ae05 @fcwilt
                        last edited by

                        @fcwilt šŸ™ƒ

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • lord binkyundefined
                          lord binky @DaveA
                          last edited by

                          @DaveA As a C & C++ programmer from around 1976 I'd love to see the Kernighan and Ritchie style with { } syntax. I hate Python indention style.
                          Just my opinion since you asked.

                          What? But python style works great in editors like EMACS! Fancy IDE's highlighting { } groupings is for schmucks right? šŸ˜„

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • wilrikerundefined
                            wilriker
                            last edited by

                            My opinion: use a keyword to end blocks (end is fine for me, but honestly I don't care).

                            Do not allow mixing styles, use block end keywords exclusively (but allow indentation for style purposes).

                            Manuel
                            Duet 3 6HC (v0.6) with RPi 4B on a custom Cartesian
                            with probably always latest firmware/DWC (incl. betas or self-compiled)
                            My Tool Collection

                            fcwiltundefined garethkyundefined 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • fcwiltundefined
                              fcwilt @wilriker
                              last edited by

                              @wilriker said in Feedback wanted: conditional GCode without indentation:

                              My opinion: use a keyword to end blocks (end is fine for me, but honestly I don't care).

                              So you would be ok with "ruvineckerned" or "footguratunnie"?

                              Just checking to be sure.

                              šŸ˜‰

                              Frederick

                              Printers: a E3D MS/TC setup and a RatRig Hybrid. Using Duet 3 hardware running 3.4.6

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • garethkyundefined
                                garethky @wilriker
                                last edited by

                                @wilriker +1

                                The target audience for this language is not skilled programmers. Its designers & makers that are trying to solve some problem with their printer. There is going to be a LOT of copy/paste code that mixes indentation types (tabs, spaces, number of spaces). Begin/end constructs survive this kind of abuse better than Python style strict indentation. Having just 1-way-to-do-it makes its safer/easier for newbies copying code.

                                The few of us that are writing most of the code can use whatever construct you come up with.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                                • DanS79undefined
                                  DanS79
                                  last edited by

                                  I think php might be a good example here as it allows two types of syntax.

                                  For pure php

                                  <?php
                                  if ($a > $b) {
                                      // do somehting
                                  } else {
                                   // do somehting else
                                  }
                                  ?>
                                  

                                  For php mixed with large chunks of something else like html, JS etc.

                                  <?php if ($a > $b) : ?>
                                      // do somehting
                                  <?php else: ?>
                                   // do somehting else
                                  <?php endif; ?>
                                  

                                  All standard control structures have the second alternative syntax.

                                  The parser knows php is only contained between the opening and closing tags

                                  <?php  // some code here ?>
                                  

                                  The alternate control structures lets the parser know that logic spans multiple sets of opening and closing tags.

                                  Each control structure has it's own unique opening and closing tags.
                                  here is a quick little tutorial with examples.
                                  https://riptutorial.com/php/topic/1199/alternative-syntax-for-control-structures

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • OwenDundefined
                                    OwenD
                                    last edited by

                                    One thought I guess as is how any start/end construct might be interpreted by common slicers if used in start gcode etc
                                    Prusa slicer uses if-endif so is definitely going to try to post process that. Whether it causes any issues probably depends on how PS handles things it doesn't understand

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • garyd9undefined
                                      garyd9
                                      last edited by

                                      I agree that styles shouldn't be mixed and that RRF should either support one thing or another (and not both.) However, RRF 3 is a released product, so any change could be breaking a LOT of code, macros, etc.

                                      Even the initial "conditional gcode" stuff in RRF3 was done in such a way to not break any existing gcode.

                                      For that reason, I still think there are ways to solve the actual problem without breaking changes to the language. One idea I proposed above, though I don't know if that would actually work. Immediately after, someone else proposed something else that wouldn't break any existing gcode.

                                      Breaking an existing programming language for single special cases isn't a good practice. Even large functional changes should be careful to not break existing code. I still have old K&R style C code that still compiles with a modern C/C++ compiler!

                                      "I'm not saying that you are wrong - I'm just trying to fit it into my real world simulated experience."

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • OwenDundefined
                                        OwenD @dc42
                                        last edited by OwenD

                                        @dc42

                                        Suppose you generate a GCode file using a slicer. But you have a belt printer and you want to print it 10 times, with a belt movement between each iteration.

                                        For this particular case, could it not be solved using a loop Gcode as in CNC or plasma cutting? In the case of Hypertherm controllers they use G97 & G98 to define the loop.
                                        In my day job I sell CNC plasma systems and the nesting program would output thusly if you used step and repeat.
                                        I would have thought that instead of stepping on Y, you'd just do Z?

                                        %
                                        G21
                                        G91
                                        G97 T10; loop 10 times
                                        N1
                                        M00
                                        G00X0.Y45.278
                                        (Seq 1 - square)
                                        G41
                                        M07 ; torch on
                                        G01Y4.722
                                        G01X50.
                                        G01Y-50.
                                        G01X-50.
                                        G01Y45.278
                                        M08 ; torch off
                                        G40
                                        G00X0.Y104.722 ; move to be ready for next part
                                        G98 ; Repeat at G97 point
                                        M30 ; end of program
                                        %
                                        
                                        deckingmanundefined 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • deckingmanundefined
                                          deckingman @OwenD
                                          last edited by

                                          @OwenD I'd have thought, for that particular use case, one would simply advance the belt, reset the Y position using G92, then start the next print. To expand on that, when a print finishes, move the belt (say) 200mm. At that point the Y position would be (say) -250. So simply use G92 Y50 to reset it to 50, then start the next print. It's a little more complicated because the starting Y position, before the 200mm move would differ with each print, but it wouldn't be beyond the wit of man to subtract (say) 200mm from whatever the end point becomes.

                                          Ian
                                          https://somei3deas.wordpress.com/
                                          https://www.youtube.com/@deckingman

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • DonStaufferundefined
                                            DonStauffer @dc42
                                            last edited by DonStauffer

                                            @dc42 I'd like to see indentation not have semantic meaning, mainly because the way it is now, I can't have a macro write a macro that writes a macro with conditionals in it. Believe it or not, I have a use for that. and this won't work:

                                            M560 P"/macros/Outer"
                                            M28 "/macros/Inner"
                                            if condition
                                            ; stuff
                                            M29
                                            <!-- **EoF ** -->

                                            (Ironically, the forum software eats my leading spaces and won't let me put in a tab! So ; stuff is supposed to be indented.)

                                            oliofundefined 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Unless otherwise noted, all forum content is licensed under CC-BY-SA